Jamie Harris, a teaching assistant, has been cleared to continue his career without any sanctions despite attending a football course while on sick leave. The Education Workforce Council Wales found his case to be “exceptional” and acknowledged numerous personal and family pressures as mitigating factors.
Harris had been granted sick leave from Ysgol Bryn Castell Primary in Bridgend and participated in the UEFA A license course, which he had initially been denied leave to attend. His actions were deemed a “stress buster” during a challenging personal period, and the council found no violation of school policy.
Although there were initial concerns about “fleeting” dishonesty when Harris was questioned by his headteacher, it was concluded he did not act with deceitful intent. The circumstances of his questioning, including lack of preparation time and colleague support, contributed to the misunderstanding, which Harris later clarified.
The panel praised Harris for his integrity and aspirational character, highlighting that he had not calculated his decision to attend the course and noting no explicit school policy against such attendance. Harris, now working at Woodlands High in Cardiff, has shown remorse and insight, bolstered by numerous commendations for his work and character.
The hearing, chaired by Gareth Davies, concluded with best wishes for Harris’s continued success in his teaching career.
